Reflecting

I have seen my writing develop through the course of this class. In the beginning, I did not know what close reading was, and I tended to stick to the unspoken formula that I was taught to follow in high school of a hook, a thesis with three reasons, and a conclusion that restated those three reasons. Writing the three analytical papers and this research paper has allowed me to write more freely and analytically. By using a New Humanities Reader as a resource, I've become more comfortable with reading different texts, putting them side by side, and drawing deeper conclusions from the comparison. I've learned how to better integrate quotes into my writing and how to "close read" and analyze them in a way that they become fluid and meaningful in my paper. I have also become more comfortable crafting a working thesis that opens the door for a complex discussion in my paper, yet at the same time is simple and easy to follow. I plan to use these improved skills as I write my research paper, and am glad that I will also have them to upgrade my writing in the years to come.